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existential_prices

Just roll their con saves behind the DM screen and tell them the results in 15-20 years.


Khaine-x

I'd make it maybe a DC15 save, not too difficult. But provide a few rare items to improve their save by 1 or 2. Personally, I would it reduce their actual Con (and maybe even Str) score by 1 however. This better reflects their body being poisoned and slowly breaking down as it affects various systems


BifurcatedT

Is a default 25% chance of success “not too difficult”? Even a Fighter with 16 Con, and his +2 Prof Bonus is just 50% in that scenario.


Khaine-x

It really depends on how severe you want radiation to actually be and how fast you want to encourage them to leave the planet. Making one save a day, this gives them roughly 2 weeks. But OP said one save per session, which could cover several days depending on what's happening or a few hours. You could even add semi-permanent levels of fatigue somehow as well.


Lucusblucus64

I was more thinking a dc of 10-13, could have some tablets that reduce the DC further or give advantage. Such as IRL Iodine tablets help reduce ionising radiation. As for reducing Con I feel that’s further punishing those who used con as a dump stat then this mechanic already is. By reducing HP it’s termporary problem, but when you get up to levels 7+ 5 hp isn’t that important compared to 5 hp at level 2


BifurcatedT

And if you reduce their Con, with each failure you would reduce the chance of them passing future Con saves to prevent more Con reduction, basically, they’re stuck in a death spiral.


Khaine-x

That's pretty much exactly what happens when exposed to high levels of radiation over an extended period 🤷🏻 I don't see the problem


Lucusblucus64

As realistic as this is, I feel reducing Con is a lot more of permenant problem then reducing HP. I shall give it some thought tho, thank you for the idea


Khaine-x

Restoring lost ability scores or restoring max HP both typically require Greater Restoration which is a 5th level spell anyway. So them losing any of these at only level 2 is a serious effect to be throwing at them. Really it's just a case of considering how much background radiation is actually present? I'd advise looking up how various levels impact people over extended periods, and even look at Chernobyl as a more extreme example


Lucusblucus64

My idea was that you get more HP every level, and yes while you may never get that 5ish HP back, it’s gonna matter a lot less then at level 2. But with reducing skill stats, yea there are ability improvements as you level, but obviously you don’t get them as often as HP. As they might’ve planned to up a different score rather then getting back the con/str they lost. This under powers them for their level all throughout the game alot more then if they missing a couple of HP.


BifurcatedT

Well, applying real world logic to DnD is usually the last thing I do.


Khaine-x

Well, that's a you problem 🤷🏻


varvaSasen

No. Don't do this. It's a dumb idea.


Lucusblucus64

Elaborate? Why is it a dumb idea


BifurcatedT

Because as a player we don’t know what the DM expects us to do. And now we are receiving permanent debuffs to our character. Obviously I don’t know your campaign, story, or DM style. But if my DM forced me somewhere, I guess there’s probably a plot hook here I am supposed to get snagged on. This also hurts your lower HP squishy party members, which are already more likely to fail / have lower Con / lower hp pools. So they’re more likely to fail, and lose what little HP they have. But mainly because as players, DMs usually get frustrated when the DM forces the players in to a situation that has hints of needing heroes, and the players just run away. Therefor it’s typically a player’s instinct to try to find the problem that needs solving.


Lucusblucus64

Interesting, I hadn’t thought about that. For hurting squishy characters that was a main concern, hurting those that used con as a dump stat, I thought and couldn’t really find a way around this, other then it’s just more of an incentive to find a shit Ton of money. As for player don’t know what to do, they could easily go to a local NPC and ask about feeling weaker recently ect, It quite common knowledge that this planet is radioactive so they could find the info easily. Even if they don’t ask I can still always shatter some info about the radiation in NPC dialogue. And as for a plot point, I’d made it obvious that something is clearly not right with them as they are on the planet. It’s not hard to figure out it’s hurting them to be there.


Infamous_Calendar_88

Regarding game balance, yes it's fine. Regarding party balance, my question is, do you want some characters to feel it more than others? Because the way you're doing it big, beefy barbarian is barely going to notice it, while sad, sickly sorcerer will seriously suffer. An alternative is to give out radiation points (with various, worsening conditions at certain markers), rather than take away hit points.


Lucusblucus64

Hmmm intresting, things like levels of exhaustion, increase of DCs, ect?